System-in-package image sensor

ABSTRACT

An image sensor package includes a ceramic substrate with a cavity disposed in the ceramic substrate. A glass layer is adhered to the ceramic substrate and encloses the cavity in the ceramic substrate. An image sensor is disposed in the cavity between the glass layer and the ceramic substrate to electrically isolate the image sensor. An image sensor processor is disposed in the cavity and electrically coupled to the image sensor to receive image data from the image sensor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to semiconductor device packaging, and in particular but not exclusively, relates to image sensor packaging.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Image sensors have become ubiquitous. They are widely used in digital still cameras, cellular phones, security cameras, as well as, medical, automobile, and other applications. The technology used to manufacture image sensors has continued to advance at a great pace. For example, the demands of higher resolution and lower power consumption have encouraged the further miniaturization and integration of these devices.

The typical image sensor operates as follows. Image light from an external scene is incident on the image sensor. The image sensor includes a plurality of photosensitive elements such that each photosensitive element absorbs a portion of incident image light. Photosensitive elements included in the image sensor, such as photodiodes, each generate image charge upon absorption of the image light. The amount of image charge generated is proportional to the intensity of the image light. The generated image charge may be used to produce an image representing the external scene.

In order to produce high quality images, the image sensor needs to be sufficiently electrically isolated to prevent unwanted electrical distortion. Conventional packaging materials may not possess adequate insulative properties for modern sensors.

Accordingly, new packaging materials may be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples of the invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1A is a cross sectional illustration of an image sensor package, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a cross sectional illustration of an image sensor package, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a cross sectional illustration of an image sensor package, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate a method of image sensor package fabrication, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate a method of image sensor package fabrication, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a car that is at least in part autonomous which may contain the image sensor packages of FIGS. 1A-1C, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples of an apparatus and method for a system-in-package image sensor are described herein. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the techniques described herein can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects.

Reference throughout this specification to “one example” or “one embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one example” or “in one embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples.

Throughout this specification, several terms of art are used. These terms are to take on their ordinary meaning in the art from which they come, unless specifically defined herein or the context of their use would clearly suggest otherwise.

FIG. 1A is a cross sectional illustration of image sensor package 100A. Image sensor package 100A includes ceramic substrate 101, image sensor 103, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 105, image sensor processor 107, component 109, glass layer 111, adhesives 113-117, and wire bond 119. One of skill in the art will appreciate that many of the components depicted may be substituted for other components, in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. However, ceramic substrate 101 may convey greater electrical isolation and enhanced mechanical properties over conventional semiconductor packaging materials.

Ceramic substrate 101 has a cavity disposed within it, and glass layer 111 is adhered to ceramic substrate 101 and encloses the cavity. Image sensor 103 is disposed in the cavity between glass layer 111 and ceramic substrate 101 so that image sensor 103 is electrically isolated. Image sensor processor (ISP) 107 is disposed in the cavity and electrically coupled to image sensor 103 to receive image data from image sensor 103. In one example ISP 107 may process the raw image data into a data type usable by an electronic device, or may even manipulate the image data by applying post image effects (e.g., crop, rotate, remove red eye, adjust brightness, adjust contrast, or otherwise). As depicted, glass layer 111 is disposed proximate to an illuminated side of image sensor 103, and glass layer 111 is glued (via adhesive 113) to elevated portions of ceramic substrate 101. In other words, in the depicted example, glass layer 111 is glued to the walls of the cavity so that there is an air gap or vacuum between image sensor 103 and glass layer 111. Image sensor 103 also includes a plurality of microlenses disposed on the illuminated surface of image sensor 103 so that the microlenses are disposed between glass layer 111 and image sensor 103.

In the depicted example, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 105 is disposed in the cavity in ceramic substrate 101, and is coupled to at least one of image sensor 103 or image sensor processor 107 depending on how image sensor package 100A is used (e.g., cell phone, partially or fully autonomous car, computer, etc.). In one example, ASIC 105 may include field programmable gate arrays.

Also shown in FIG. 1A is component 109, which may be another piece of circuitry used to control image sensor 103 or may control the power supplied to image sensor 103. As depicted, ASIC 105, image sensor 103, image sensor processor 107, and component 109 are disposed on a level plane within the cavity on ceramic substrate 101. Moreover, ceramic substrate 101 includes contact pads disposed on the ceramic substrate 101; image sensor 103 and image sensor processor 107 are wire bonded to the contact pads via wire bonds 119.

FIG. 1B is a cross sectional illustration of an image sensor package 100B. Image sensor package 100B is similar in many respects to image sensor package 100A. However, image sensor package 100B includes ledges disposed in the cavity of ceramic substrate 101, and interposer 121 is disposed on the ledges such that interposer 121 spans the gap between the ledges. Moreover, image sensor 103, image sensor processor 107, and ASIC 105 are disposed on interposer 121. As shown, image sensor 103 and image sensor processor 107 are disposed between glass layer 111 and interposer 121; ASIC 105 and component 109 are disposed between ceramic substrate 101 and interposer 121. In the illustrate example, ASIC 105 is vertically aligned with ISP 107, while component 109 is vertically aligned with image sensor 103. Interposer 121 may either be plastic with metal components 123 (which may be disposed between two pieces of plastic), or may include silicon depending on the desired properties of interposer 121. Moreover, interposer 121 may be mounted on the ledges with adhesive 131. In the depicted example, metal components 123 may include electrical interconnects to couple image sensor 103 to image sensor processor 107 and ASIC 105.

FIG. 1C is a cross sectional illustration of image sensor package 100C, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Image sensor package 100C is similar in many respects to image sensor package 100A and 100B. However, rather than an interposer being disposed on ledges, image sensor 103 is disposed on the ledges and spans a gap between the ledges. Moreover image sensor processor 107 is disposed on ceramic substrate 101 between image sensor 103 and ceramic substrate 101. In other words, image sensor processor 107 is disposed in a second cavity between the two ledges. Image sensor 103 is disposed between image sensor processor 107 and glass layer 111 in a vertical direction. As illustrated, glass layer 111, image sensor 103, and image sensor processor 107 are optically aligned so that image light is directed through glass layer 111, is incident on image sensor 103, and light is blocked from reaching image sensor processor 107. In the depicted example, image sensor processor 107 is adhered to ceramic substrate 101 with adhesive 117.

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate a method of image sensor package fabrication, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The order in which some or all process figures appear in the method should not be deemed limiting. Rather, one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure will understand that some of the method may be executed in a variety of orders not illustrated, or even in parallel. Furthermore, the method may omit certain figures in order to avoid obscuring certain aspects. Alternatively, the method may include additional figures that may not be necessary in some embodiments/examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 2A shows forming a cavity in ceramic substrate 201. This may include taking a block of ceramic and etching a trench into the substrate. Alternatively, the ceramic may be pressed/sintered, slip cast, or the like to form the desired shape. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many techniques and materials may be used to form ceramic substrate 201. For example, ceramic substrate 201 may include oxides of aluminum, silicon, zinc, or the like.

FIG. 2B illustrates placing application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 205 and component 209 into the cavity in ceramic substrate 201. In the depicted example, both ASIC 205 and component 209 may have solder balls on the bottom and may be coupled to electrical contacts on ceramic substrate 201.

FIG. 2C depicts placing image sensor 203 and image sensor processor 207 in the cavity in ceramic substrate 201. In the depicted example, image sensor 203 and image sensor processor 207 are wire bonded 219 to electrical contacts disposed on the ceramic cavity. As shown ASIC 205, image sensor 203, and image sensor processor 207 are disposed on a level plane within the cavity.

FIG. 2D shows depositing glue 213 on ceramic substrate 201. In one example, glue 213 may be an epoxy or the like. However, in other examples the glue 213 may be optically or thermally cross-linkable.

FIG. 2E illustrates placing glass layer 211 on glue 213 to adhere glass layer 211 to ceramic substrate 201. Thus, image sensor processor 207 and image sensor 203 are disposed in the cavity between glass layer 211 and ceramic substrate 201. This encapsulates image sensor 203 allowing for an electrically isolated and mechanically robust image sensor package.

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate a method of image sensor package fabrication, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The order in which some or all process figures appear in the method should not be deemed limiting. Rather, one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure will understand that some of the method may be executed in a variety of orders not illustrated, or even in parallel. Furthermore, the method may omit certain figures in order to avoid obscuring certain aspects. Alternatively, the method may include additional figures that may not be necessary in some embodiments/examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 3A shows mounting an ASIC 305 and component 309 to interposer 321. Interposer 321 may be either plastic with metal 323, or silicon depending on design considerations.

FIG. 3B illustrates mounting image sensor 303 and image sensor processor 307 on the opposite side of interposer 321. Thus, image sensor 303 and image sensor processor 307 are disposed on the illuminated side of interposer 321, and ASIC 305 and component 309 are disposed on a non-illuminated side. All of the aforementioned components may be wire bound 319 to interposer 321.

FIG. 3C depicts adhering interposer 321 to ceramic substrate 301. In the depicted example interposer 321 is adhered to ceramic substrate 301 with adhesive 331. In one example, placing an interposer 321 in the cavity includes placing it on ledges disposed within the cavity in ceramic substrate 301. As shown, ASIC 305 and component 309 are disposed, at least in part, in a second cavity disposed between the two ledges.

FIG. 3D shows applying glue 313 to the ledges of the ceramic substrate 301. Glue 313 can be dispensed with an automated glue gun or any other apparatus.

FIG. 3E illustrates adhering glass layer 211 to ceramic substrate 201 with glue 213.

FIG. 4 illustrates car 400 that is at least in part autonomous which may contain the image sensor packages 401 of FIGS. 1A-1C. In one example, car 400 may use image sensors 401 to park itself. In other examples, car 400 may drive itself with little or no human intervention. The image sensors 401 may relay optical information about the position of car 400 to processors contained within the car 400. This may allow for car 400 to accurately position itself in traffic. The ceramic housings of image sensor packages 401 may guard against mechanical, chemical, and electromagnetic disruption of clear image acquisition. For instance, the ceramic and glass housing may prevent damage to critical sensing components in an accident, thereby allowing car 400 to still maneuver itself to the side of the road and out of harm's way. Moreover, the ceramic packaging my help prevent chemical degradation (e.g., preventing road salt from corroding connections).

The above description of illustrated examples of the invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. While specific examples of the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

These modifications can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed in the specification. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined entirely by the following claims, which are to be construed in accordance with established doctrines of claim interpretation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An image sensor package, comprising: a ceramic substrate with a cavity disposed in the ceramic substrate; a glass layer adhered to the ceramic substrate and enclosing the cavity in the ceramic substrate; an image sensor disposed in the cavity between the glass layer and the ceramic substrate to electrically isolate the image sensor; an image sensor processor disposed in the cavity and electrically coupled to the image sensor to receive image data from the image sensor; an application-specific integrated circuit disposed in the cavity in the ceramic substrate, and coupled to at least one of the image sensor or the image sensor processor; ledges disposed in the cavity of the ceramic substrate; and an interposer disposed on the ledges that spans a gap between the ledges, wherein the image sensor, the image sensor processor, and the application-specific integrated circuit are disposed on the interposer.
 2. The image sensor package of claim 1, wherein the glass layer is disposed proximate to an illuminated side of the image sensor, and wherein the glass layer is glued to elevated portions of the ceramic substrate.
 3. The image sensor package of the claim 2, wherein the image sensor includes a plurality of microlenses disposed on an illuminated surface of the image sensor and disposed between the glass layer and the image sensor.
 4. The image sensor package of claim 1, wherein the image sensor and the image sensor processor are disposed between the glass layer and the interposer, and wherein the application-specific integrated circuit is disposed between the ceramic substrate and the interposer.
 5. The image sensor package of claim 4, wherein the interposer includes electrical interconnects to couple the image sensor to the image sensor processor and the application-specific integrated circuit, and wherein the interposer is attached to the ledges.
 6. The image sensor package of claim 1, wherein the image sensor package is included in a car that is at least in part autonomous.
 7. An image sensor package, comprising: a ceramic substrate with a cavity disposed in the ceramic substrate; a glass layer adhered to the ceramic substrate and enclosing the cavity in the ceramic substrate; an image sensor disposed in the cavity between the glass layer and the ceramic substrate to electrically isolate the image sensor; an image sensor processor disposed in the cavity and electrically coupled to the image sensor to receive image data from the image sensor; and ledges disposed in the cavity of the ceramic substrate, wherein the image sensor is disposed on the ledges and spans a gap between the ledges, and wherein the image sensor processor is disposed on the ceramic substrate between the image sensor and the ceramic substrate, and wherein the image sensor is disposed between the image sensor processor and the glass layer.
 8. The image sensor package of claim 7, further comprising contact pads disposed on the ceramic substrate, wherein the image sensor and the image sensor processor are wire bonded to the contact pads. 